Dropping From Big Sky Right Move for CSUN

Good-bye, Big Sky. Bring on the Big West.

That should be the clarion call at Cal State Northridge in the wake of recent developments that have dealt the school’s plans for construction of athletic facilities a devastating blow and clouded its conference future.

With the cancellation this week of a student referendum intended to help fund construction of a 10,000-seat multipurpose stadium, a baseball stadium and a student-activities center, Northridge will be hard-pressed to finance the project.

Yet, despite the devastating setback, administrators at Northridge still are clinging to the dream of building an on-campus stadium, a decision they approved last spring but is in limbo because of a lack of funding.

They should let go. The writing has been on the wall for months, and it’s time for Northridge to start reading. The Big West Conference beckons and the Matadors should answer the call.

The Big West, rumored to be interested in landing Northridge as a member, would be a better fit for the Matadors than the Big Sky.

Northridge’s four-year affiliation with the Big Sky already is on tenuous ground because of the university’s lack of progress toward building a football stadium, a condition of the Matadors’ inclusion in the conference.

No more Big Sky means no mandate to build a stadium. Not right away, anyway. And not under someone else’s terms.

No more Big Sky means no more games in Montana, Oregon, Washington and Idaho, opponents with no geographic or historical ties to Northridge.

Meanwhile, events continue to unfold that point toward Northridge becoming a member of a revamped Big West. Last week, Boise State became the latest school to bolt the conference.

A chain-reaction of schools switching conferences could clear the way for Northridge to become a member of the Big West. One rumored scenario has the Matadors joining along with UC Riverside in 2002.

Administrators at Northridge continue to insist the school wants to remain a member of the Big Sky.

Yet, Dick Dull, Northridge athletic director, acknowledged he has had informal discussions with administrators about the option of joining the Big West.

Dull had better get formal. This isn’t so much of an option as it is an opportunity.

Northridge should pursue a move to the Big West, primarily because of economic and geographic reasons. And plain common sense.

No more visiting the Pacific Northwest means a mountain in savings on travel expenses. The Northridge football team, an entourage of dozens, would incur far less cost traveling by bus to, say, San Luis Obispo, than flying to Montana.

No more Big Sky means no streaking to build a new stadium. Northridge could plot its athletic future more prudently and deliberately. Pierce College would serve as a suitable temporary home after North Campus Stadium is demolished in a few years.

Finally, no more Big Sky means no more lining up against strangers and trying to get people to watch. Competitively, Northridge has fared well in the Big Sky, but the Matadors have not developed a natural rival among any of the other eight schools, regardless of the sport.

Competing in the Big West would pit Northridge against teams in close proximity, such as Cal Poly San Luis Obispo in football, and Cal State Fullerton and Long Beach State in basketball and baseball. Rivalries will be natural.

“It would improve attendance,” said Bobby Braswell, Northridge’s men’s basketball coach. “Sometimes, we might be playing Northern Arizona and they’re in first place but the stands aren’t full. From the standpoint of the department, I think it would be a good move for us.”

Frozena Jerro, the Matadors’ women’s basketball coach, agrees.

“It would be a lot more feasible,” Jerro said. “Most of the Big West schools are within driving distance, almost.”

Northridge doesn’t need to drop football. The Matadors don’t need to play in a new stadium, if they finance one to be built. Or in a conference to which they have never really fit.

Say good-bye to the Big Sky. Say hello to the Big West.